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Still Spry: Why Some Seniors Still Have Amazing Memory

As we age, normal memory loss is expected. As our bodies begin to wrinkle and ache, a majority of people notice a rise in forgetfulness and a once sharp mind starts to dull. However, a few seniors have been proven that expectation wrong.

We've all heard of superheroes. They're people with extraordinary abilities. As Next Avenue puts it, there is now a rise of super-agers. These aging adults still age physically, but mentally, they have the brain health of 18-32-year-olds. Scientists are baffled by this. What is one of the main reasons for this unique health advantage?

One theory is an involved and active mind. Socialization, hard work, a strong family life, and hobbies, have been noted as contributors. These super-agers have been noted to have active and social lives, and now continue to exhibit signs of quick thinking, resilience, and the ability to overcome obstacles. While it may seem subjective or dependent on an individual's attitude, it's not all psycho-sematic.

Researchers have noticed that the brain networks used for memory are "nearly untouched by age" in super-agers. They also found thick cortex in areas of the brain that produce tenacity and resilience. There are continued studies to determine if super-agers are immune to certain diseases that would usually cause molecules known as amyloids to accumulate in the brain, which thereby accelerates or worsen aging.

While originally thought that the study of super-agers might help those with dementia and Alzheimer's, researchers are still trying to understand the condition and learn how we may be able to utilize this knowledge towards a cure for mentally debilitating diseases.